Overall Policy Statement
This policy applies to employees, trustees, and volunteers working for and on behalf of SBJC or involved in SBJC activities. The word “activities” in this policy is used to cover education activities including Cheder, community-organised care of elderly or vulnerable people, other events, social events and gatherings, and services. The policy does not apply in the context of personal relationships between members which fall outside SBJC’s purview.
The purpose of the SBJC safeguarding policy is to protect children, young people and vulnerable people at any of its activities. The policy clauses below are intended to ensure that our activities are safely run.
This is everyone’s responsibility and everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play.
A Safeguarding policy is useful to solve problems and mitigate risks. A well-developed safeguarding policy will ensure that everyone knows what is expected of their organisation, their management and themselves to keep children safe. Its most important function is to reduce the risk of a child being harmed but it also ensures that organisations are protected from risks: e.g. financial, reputational, litigation and many others.
SBJC will work with children, parents and the community to ensure we support children’s rights and create and maintain the safest possible environment for children.
We do this by:
SBJC is based in South Bucks and is a constituent member of Liberal Judaism, as such we work in collaboration with Liberal Judaism for additional support and guidance.
Useful resources for voluntary organisations working with children and young people can be found on the NSPCC website: www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/safeguarding/
These include:
The following guidance is also relevant:
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419595/Working_Together_to_Safeguard_Children.pdf
Information sharing:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419628/Information_sharing_advice_safeguarding_practitioners.pdf
What to do if you’re worried about a child:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419604/What_to_do_if_you_re_worried_a_child_is_being_abused.pdf
It is important to emphasise that everybody in whatever role working with children and young people has a duty to safeguard children and to report concerns about their safety and wellbeing.
Contact Details
Designated Safeguarding Lead – Janna Balham, and Deputy – Rowena Slope and be contacted via,
DSL@sbjc.org.uk
NSPCC Helpline
0808 800 5000
Date of this update: June 2023
Adopted by SBJC Council – 30th June 2023
Version 1
Date of next review December 2024.
Signed Janna Balham, 1st July 2023
This overall policy statement should be read alongside our detailed policies and procedures. These are available on request from our Designated Safeguarding Lead - DSL@sbjc.org.uk
This policy applies to employees, trustees, and volunteers working for and on behalf of SBJC or involved in SBJC activities. The word “activities” in this policy is used to cover education activities including Cheder, community-organised care of elderly or vulnerable people, other events, social events and gatherings, and services. The policy does not apply in the context of personal relationships between members which fall outside SBJC’s purview.
The purpose of the SBJC safeguarding policy is to protect children, young people and vulnerable people at any of its activities. The policy clauses below are intended to ensure that our activities are safely run.
This is everyone’s responsibility and everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play.
A Safeguarding policy is useful to solve problems and mitigate risks. A well-developed safeguarding policy will ensure that everyone knows what is expected of their organisation, their management and themselves to keep children safe. Its most important function is to reduce the risk of a child being harmed but it also ensures that organisations are protected from risks: e.g. financial, reputational, litigation and many others.
SBJC will work with children, parents and the community to ensure we support children’s rights and create and maintain the safest possible environment for children.
We do this by:
- Recognising that all children have the right to freedom from abuse and harm
- Promoting joint working with parents and carers in the interest of children’s welfare
- Following safe recruitment procedures which ensure that staff and volunteers are carefully selected, vetted and have the relevant qualifications and experience.
- Recording and storing information professionally and securely
- Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
- Ensuring that all staff are aware of and accept responsibility for helping to prevent the abuse of child
- Designating a Safeguarding Lead (a DSL) who takes specific responsibility for children’s protection, safety and well-being
- Supporting all staff in bringing concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
- Responding quickly and appropriately to all suspicions or allegations of abuse.
- Providing parents, carers, and children with the opportunity to voice any concerns they may have. This includes having knowledge of, and ensuring children have access to their preferred methods of communication and that staff are trained in a variety of communication tools.
- Adopting positive behaviour management strategies which are non-violent and do not impose humiliation
- Managing allegations against staff and volunteers
- Developing and implementing guidance on photography and how we share images
- Reviewing the effectiveness of the organisation’s Child Protection Policy and Procedures.
- Ensuring that we have effective whistleblowing procedures in place
- Working in partnership with external organisations and professionals to ensure that children are protected
SBJC is based in South Bucks and is a constituent member of Liberal Judaism, as such we work in collaboration with Liberal Judaism for additional support and guidance.
Useful resources for voluntary organisations working with children and young people can be found on the NSPCC website: www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/safeguarding/
These include:
- standards for organisations to implement and a self-assessment tool kit https://safeguardingtool.nspcc.org.uk/?_ga=1.97694940.219746708.1492612478
- advice on recruiting and managing staff and volunteers, including pre-employment/engagement checks https://safeguardingtool.nspcc.org.uk/resource-library/resources/safer-staff-and-volunteers/
- information and resources to support organisations to manage concerns raised about unacceptable or unsafe conduct by staff and volunteers towards other colleagues or children https://safeguardingtool.nspcc.org.uk/resource-library/resources/child-protection-/
The following guidance is also relevant:
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419595/Working_Together_to_Safeguard_Children.pdf
Information sharing:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419628/Information_sharing_advice_safeguarding_practitioners.pdf
What to do if you’re worried about a child:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419604/What_to_do_if_you_re_worried_a_child_is_being_abused.pdf
It is important to emphasise that everybody in whatever role working with children and young people has a duty to safeguard children and to report concerns about their safety and wellbeing.
Contact Details
Designated Safeguarding Lead – Janna Balham, and Deputy – Rowena Slope and be contacted via,
DSL@sbjc.org.uk
NSPCC Helpline
0808 800 5000
Date of this update: June 2023
Adopted by SBJC Council – 30th June 2023
Version 1
Date of next review December 2024.
Signed Janna Balham, 1st July 2023
This overall policy statement should be read alongside our detailed policies and procedures. These are available on request from our Designated Safeguarding Lead - DSL@sbjc.org.uk